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Two x Two for AIDS and Art was an organization built around collaboration from the beginning, with proceeds of each initiative benefiting both amFAR and the Dallas Museum of Art. This year, after a grand meeting of fashion, art, and philanthropic minds, emerged 10 incredibly beautiful, unique handbags designed by 10 artists for the Nancy Gonzalez company entitled Two x Two 2012. The sales of these one of a kind works will benefit both organizations.

So how did artists like Jim Hodges, Will Cotton, and Jenny Holzer come to partner with a luxury handbag line? The President of Nancy Gonzalez, Santiago Barberi Gonzalez, was visiting Dallas last year when Jim Gold, the President of Neiman Marcus, suggested he take some time for himself on his visit and see some incredible art. Gonzalez, himself a collector, happily visited museums and private collections, including that of Howard and Cindy Rachovsky, the philanthropic masterminds behind Two x Two. The rest is history. As you can see from the images below, the passionate spirits of all those involved commissioned 10 noteworthy Contemporary Artists to design unique handbags to benefit the charitable cause. The bags will be auctioned off October 20, 2012 at the annual gala, however you do NOT have to be present to place a bid (or win a bag!!). Bids will be accepted online on Paddle8 (where you can also view all 10 works) from October 4-18.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Jim Hodges’ studio. It is always amazing to see an artist in his element, where ideas begin, works evolve in various iterations, and great visions come to life. I have always associated the artist with his manipulated mirror mosaic works, and love how he plays with concepts of perspective, reflection, and visual interaction through those pieces. Hodges utilizes a broad range of both everyday and precious materials, such as 24 carat gold, in his art. In his two-part exhibition late last year at Gladstone Gallery in New York, he presented several large-scale sculptural works that “emphasize the artist’s ongoing interest in a spectrum of materiality and the liminal space between beauty and loss.” He also showed his largest black-mirrored sculpture to date, installed in multiple pieces on various walls in the gallery. In Gladstone’s second gallery space, he created an installation that basically “rained paint” in a large box over the course of the exhibit, creating a dynamic, constantly changing environment where color became a form of movement.

In speaking to us, Hodges noted that he “considered himself first and foremost a drawer”, as all of his artworks originated in the form of a drawing. He utilized the act of drawing almost as a form of therapy, noting that it helps him “get through hard times”. For the past year, he served as the acting chair of the Sculpture Department at the Yale University School of Art, teaching and inspiring students daily. A major retrospective of Hodges’ work, organized by the Walker Art Center and the Dallas Museum of Art, is scheduled for 2013 and 2014. I had the opportunity to view his “idea board” he is working on, as he is extremely involved in the thematic planning for the exhibition in collaboration with the curators of the show. I was extremely impressed by the artist’s articulate description of his art and process, and admired his humble nature. His retrospective should not be missed!

Movements (Stage II), 2006 Mirror on Canvas

And Still This, 2005-2008 23.5K and 24K gold with Beva on gossed linen in 10 parts